Pneumatic shoe form or last



(No Model.)

J. JLRUTGERS 8v B. F. BRINKMAN.

PNEUMATIG SHOE FORM 0R LAST. No. 601,306. Patented Mar. 29, 1898.

I wwuzssas}. x m 0 M4 a UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JOHN J. RUTGERS, HOLLAND, AND BENJAMIN F. BRINKMAN, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. I

PNEUMATIC SHOE FORM OR LAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letterslatent No. 601,306, dated March 29, 1898.

Application filed February 17, 1897. Serial No. 623,874. (No model.)

To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that W6,"JOHN J. RUTGERS, of Holland, and BENJAMIN F. BRINKMAN, .of Grand Rapids, Michigan, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Shoe Forms or Lasts; and we do hereby declare the following-to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains:

to make and use the same. Our invention relates to form or last.

Our object is to providea distensible inflata pneumatic shoe able last for stretching shoes, removing wrinv kles from the leather, and various uses; and it consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the device herein described, pointed out in the claim, and illus 2o trated in the drawings, in which-- a vertical section of the same.

A represents the body, composed of a suitable air-tight semi-elastic fabric (preferably .rubber) in the form of a shoemakers last, the

' hollow interior corresponding in outline to the 3o exterior and having an insole B and an extra stiffened top portion 0, provided with an air- Valve D, communicating with said interior and having the end screW-threaded,as shown, for-attaching to the nozzle of an air-pump for inflating the last with air.

When used, the device is inserted into the shoe before inflation, then connected to the air-pump and inflated, thereby distending the I shoe.

The valve prevents the return of the air. The pump is disconnected and the shoe retains theform of the last until the valve is opened, permitting the air to escape, when the last collapses and is easily removed.

Shoes arranged for display in show-cases and windows are generally stuffed with batting, rags, paper, or similar material for distension. This process consumes time, re-' quires skill to make the shoe have a symmetrical appearance, and is unsatisfactory. Our

device is designed to furnish a substitute for this process.

Our improved pneumatic last furnishes a rically distending and filling shoes used for the purpose of exhibition.

We claim- As an improved article of manufacture, the herein-described pneumatic shoe form or last, comprising a body portion of air-tight semielastic fabric of the shape of a last or shoe corresponding when inflated to the interior of a shoe and collapsible when not inflated, an insole over which the fabric is stretched atits lower portion, a stiffened top portion over which the fabric is also stretched, and an airvalve secured in the stiffened top portion and passed through the fabric, all substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. RUTGERS. BENJ. F. BRINKMAN. Witnesses:

DENNIS L. ROGERS, WINNIE B. WILsoN. 

